Novak Djokovic successfully defended his title and points in Dubai this week. After being forced to play the final over two days because of a rain delay, Djokovic eventually overcame Mikhail Youzhny 7-5 5-7 6-3. The victory is the Serb’s 16th title.

(Image: Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships)

Novak Djokovic made it into the final by the skin of his teeth. The world no. 2 again had a slow start. He staved off a charge from Marcos Baghadatis but was ultimately victorious with a 6-7(2) 6-3 6-4 win. The win was not pretty, but it was enough to advance.

The Serb will now defend his title against Mikhail Youzhny tomorrow. The Russian has been playing well but has not been tested this week since his quarterfinal opponent, Janko Tipsaravic sent home Andy Murray in the second round.

It should be an interesting matchup with Djokovic still struggling and Youzhny playing well. Their head-to-head record is 3-3 with the world no. 15 winning their last meeting in the Rotterdam semifinals.

Friday's Results
Singles Semifinals
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 6-7(2) 6-3 6-4
7 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 7-5 7-6(4)

Doubles Semifinals
2 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/L. Paes (IND) def. C. Kas (GER)/D. Norman (BEL) 2-6 7-6(6) 10-7
S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. F. Lopez (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) 6-2 3-6 14-12

Championship Saturday
Singles Final
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. 7 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)

Doubles Final
2 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/L. Paes (IND) vs. S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS)
Saturday's Order of Play

Watch Live
Tennis Channel – 10:00 AM ET

(Image: Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships)

Janko Tipsarevic upset third-seed Andy Murray 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4. After losing the first set, Murray rallied to win the second set, but the world no. 39 was able to hold off the current world no. 4. It is a solid victory for the third-ranked Serb, who has had a so-so year so far. The two-match streak this week brings his record this year to 4-2.

He is the second Serb to book a spot in the quarterfinals after Novak Djokovic was able to skirt trouble from another Serb, Viktor Troicki. Tipsarevic will play seventh-seed Mikhail Youzhny in the quarterfinals. The 25-year-old Serb leads Youzhny 2-1 in their head-to-head meetings.

Wednesday’s Results
Singles Second Round
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 3-6 6-4 6-2
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. 3 Andy Murray (GBR) 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4
Michael Berrer (GER) def. 4 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 6-3 RET. (left wrist)
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. 5 WC Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 7-5 6-3
6 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. Q Stefan Koubek (AUT) 6-2 7-6(6)
7 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Q Bjorn Phau (GER) 7-6(2) 6-4
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-3 7-5
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. Q Somdev Devvarman (IND) 6-3 3-6 6-1

Doubles First Round
F. Lopez (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) def. 1 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) 6-3 3-6 10-7
A. Clement (FRA)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. WC R. Bopanna (IND)/A. Qureshi (PAK) 5-7 7-6(5) 10-8
4 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. 4 N. Davydenko (RUS)/I. Kunitsyn (RUS) walkover (Davydenko - left wrist)

Doubles Quarterfinals
S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. 3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Mirnyi (BLR) 6-4 6-4

Thursday’s Order of Play

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(Image: Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship)

Tommy Robredo beat last week’s Open 13 singles finalist and doubles champion. The Spaniard had an easy time with Julien Benneteau 6-2 6-1 after just 44 minutes of work. Benneteau double’s partner from last week and the Open 13 champion did not fare much better today. Michael Llodra had to withdraw from his match with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga with a hamstring injury.

Robredo will advance to play Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the second round. The Spaniard leads their head-to-head 4-3. The new world no. 23 dropped 6 spots this week and has struggled this year. He is 2-4 before his match today. Since he was last year’s Juan Carlos Ferrero, he lost 500 points for not defending or replacing his championship points in Costa Do Sauipe and Buenos Aires.

Tuesday’s Order of Play
Singles First Round
4 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. Florent Serra (FRA) 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1
5 WC Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. Michael Llodra (FRA) 7-6(9) RET. (left hamstring)
6 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. Arnaud Clement (FRA) 6-2 6-4
7 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Lukas Lacko (SVK) 6-7(3) 7-6(5) 6-1
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 7-6(4) 7-5
Michael Berrer (GER) def. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-4 7-6(3)
Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-2 6-1
Q Somdev Devvarman (IND) def. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 6-4 7-5
Q Bjorn Phau (GER) def. WC Mohammad Ghareeb (KUW) 3-0 RET. (back)

Doubles First Round
S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. N. Djokovic (SRB)/D. Vemic (SRB) 6-4 6-3
J. Tipsarevic (SRB)/V. Troicki (SRB) def. F. Serra (FRA)/G Simon (FRA) 7-6(4) 6-0
C. Kas (GER)/D. Norman (BEL) def. I. Ljubicic (CRO)/J. Melzer (AUT) 6-4 7-6(4)

Wednesday’s Order of Play

(Image: Getty Images)

Feliciano Lopez looked remarkably photo ready in his Dubai debut against Austrian Stefan Koubek today. The Spaniard unfortunately fell victim to the qualifier and lost 7-6(4) 6-4. Lopez may have been defeated today, but he sure looked good bouncing out of the tournament.

(Image: Getty Images)

Poor Gilou continues to struggle this year. His knees have been giving him trouble for some time. Gilles Simon already pulled out of the Australian Open and Rotterdam this year.

The 25-year-old Frenchman drew Marcos Baghdatis is his opening-round match in Dubai. Baghdatis has been in good shape of late and has already played spoiler to David Ferrer and Lleyton Hewitt this year. The Cypriot today reprised his role of spoiler and upset Simon 7-6(3) 6-4.

Simon played his first match of the year last week in Marseille and lost in the first round. Today’s loss brings the Frenchman’s record to 0-2 this year. Not playing and then losing in the first rounds is killing his ranking. Thirteen months ago, he was ranked sixth in the world. Now, he is ranked eighteenth after his fell two spots today.

Singles First Round
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-4 6-4
3 Andy Murray (GBR) def. Q Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-2 6-3
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. 8 Gilles Simon (FRA) 7-6(3) 6-4
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. Simone Bolelli (ITA) 6-1 7-5
Viktor Troicki (SRB) def. WC Rainer Schuettler (GER) 6-3 6-4
Q Stefan Koubek (AUT) def. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 7-6(4) 6-4
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. LL Jan Hernych (CZE) 6-2 6-7(3) 6-4

Doubles First Round
2 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/L. Paes (IND) def. M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) 7-6(7) 6-3
3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Mirnyi (BLR) def. WC M. Al Baloushi (UAE)/A. Magdas (KUW) 7-5 6-0

Tuesday’s Order of Play

(Image: Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships)

Name: Barclay Dubai Tennis Championships
City: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Championship Points: 500
2009 Singles Champion: Novak Djokovic
2009 Doubles Champions: Rik De Voest and Dmitry Tursunov
Featured Players: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Nikolay Davydenko, Marin Cilic, Jo-Wifried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, Tommy Robredo, Mikhail Youzhny, Viktor Troicki, Michael Llodra, Julien Benneteau and Feliciano Lopez
Withdrawals: Roger Federer (lung infection)

. . . And The Qualifiers Are: Stephan Koubek (AUT), Igor Kunitsyn (RUS), Bjorn Phau (GER) and Somdev Devvarman

Draws: Singles | Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

Name: Abierto Mexicano Telcel
City: Acapulco, Mexico
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 500
2009 Singles Champion: Nicolas Almagro
2009 Doubles Champions: Frantisek Cermak and Michak Mertinak
Featured Players: Fernando Verdasco, Fernando Gonzalez, David Ferrer, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Sam Querry, Nicolas Almagro, Juan Monaco, Albert Montanes, Fabio Fognini, Richard Gasquet, Thomaz Bellucci and Carlos Moya
Tournament Evils: Carlos Moya (ESP) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA), Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs. Fabio Fognini (ITA)

Draws: Singles | Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

Name: Delray Beach International Tennis Championships
City: Delray Beach, FL
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2009 Singles Champion: Mardy Fish
2009 Doubles Champions: Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan
Featured Players: Tommy Haas, Ivo Karlovic, Benjamin Becker, Tomas Berdych, Jeremy Chardy, Evgeny Korolev, Florian Mayer, James Blake, Michael Russell, Jarkko Niemanen, Nicolas Lapentti, Santiago Giraldo

Draws: Singles | Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

Yesterday would have been Fred Perry's 100th birthday. This is a great profile of the British champion (The Independent)
In addition to Fred Perry, May 18th is a great day for tennis birthdays (Open Court)
Like Serena, Nadal is Dinara's idol (Guardian)
An interview with Djokovic's manager (Blic)
Murray has gotten smart and is starting to manage expectations (ESPN Star)
Gaston Gaudio, who is the former French Open champion, received a wildcard from the tournament (TSN)
Kei Nishikori, Japan's best player, has pulled out of the French Open (Yahoo via AP)
Super Mario can forgive anything but adultery (Croatian Times)
Mr. and Mrs. Agassi inaugurated the new Wimbledon roof (Times Online)
Dubai agrees to pay WTA fine (Guardian)
Nalbandian will be sidelined for four months after hip surgery (TSN)
In a smart move, the USTA hires Jose Higueras to overhaul the American coaching corps (ESPN)
Speaking of American tennis -- remember Americans used to win on clay (NBC Sports)
Nadal and McEnroe will appear in Wii's newest game, Grand Slam Tennis (Blast Magazine)

(Image: fredperry.com)

At a Dubai Tournament party last week, Marat Safin, who is retiring this year, smokes a traditional waterpipe.

H-Tip: Tennis.com
(image: KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic beat David Ferrer 7-5 6-3 in the championship match. The match consisted of two of the best returners on tour, so there were a lot of breaks. Djokovic struck first in game six and then there were another three consecutive breaks. Ferrer was the first to hold serve to tie the set up at 5-5. Djokovic held at love and then broke Ferrer to take the first set 7-5.

In the second set, Djokovic took over and began to show why he is the world no. 3 for the first time this year. Djokovic held for the first game and then broke Ferrer to take a 2-0 lead. The Serb went into cruise control to take the second set and the match. This championship is Djokovic’s first title of the year and the twelfth of his career. In a couple of weeks, he will defend his title at Indian Wells.

The duo Rik de Voest and Dmitry Tursunov came back from losing the first set to defeat Martin Damm and Robert Lindstredt in three sets. Remarkably, this is the duo’s first pairing together, and both can add this title to their other doubles championships. Tursunov won in Rotterdam with Tomas Berdych in 2008 and the Moscow Open with Marat Safin in 2007. De Voest won the China Open in 2007 with Ashley Fisher.

Championship Results:
Singles Final
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. 4 David Ferrer (ESP) 7-5 6-3

Doubles Final
R. de Voest (RSA)/D. Tursunov (RUS) def. M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) 4-6 6-3 10-5

(images: Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship, AP)

Novak Djokovic (pictured in his favorite pose, shirtless) beat Gilles Simon in a three set match that clocked in at 259 minutes 3-6 7-5 7-5. Djokovic did not play particularly well but managed to pull out the win in the third set.

Djokovic’s forehand failed him for much of the day but was able to stay in the match with his serve. Simon broke Djokovic in the first game of the third set, and it looked like the Frenchman would cruise into the final. In the end, the Serb broke Simon in the sixth game, which was part of his three game rally, to put himself back into the match. Djokovic then broke again to close out the match in the twelfth game. He will play David Ferrer from Spain in the final tomorrow.

David Ferrer was all business today. He played like the rent was due and trampled Richard Gasquet 6-2 6-2. If he continues to play like he did today, EPMD might have to dedicate an album to him.

Ferrer had an all around solid match. He served, returned, volleyed and moved well. The Spaniard was aggressive, and Gasquet really had no real answers for any of it. Every time Gasquet tried to get back into the match, Ferrer would immediately shut any door of opportunity. The Frenchman had six break points in the second set and did not convert.

Ferrer looked today like the player who rose to the ranking of world no. 4 early last year. The Spaniard struggled at the end of last year and is now ranked 14. He is now the third highest ranked Spaniard (after #1 Nadal and #9 Verdasco).

The start of this year, his results were mixed. He was sent packing in the round of 32 at the Australian Open and then made it to the semifinals in Auckland and Johannesburg. In the matches I have seen, the Spaniard looked frustrated, and his shots looked forced. Today was another story, so let us hope he is back to form this year.

If Ferrer plays like he did today, he should be able to take Djokovic. Let’s hope today’s Ferrer shows up tomorrow. Ferrer’s head-to head with Djokovic is split at 3-3, though Djokovic is 4-1 on hard surfaces.

In doubles news, David Ferrer’s doubles fate did not end like his single’s fate ended. He and partner Marat Safin lost to Rick De Voest and Dmitry Tursunov 7-5 3-6 5-10. De Voest and Tursunov will meet Damm and Lindstedt in the doubles final tomorrow.

Friday’s Results:
Singles Semifinals
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. 3 Gilles Simon (FRA) 3-6 7-5 7-5 4
David Ferrer (ESP) def. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-2 6-2

Doubles Semifinals
M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. M. Matkowski (POL)/R. Schuettler (GER) 6-4 6-4
R. de Voest (RSA)/D. Tursunov (RUS) def. D. Ferrer (ESP)/M. Safin (RUS) 5-7 6-3 10-5

Saturday's Matches:
Singles Final
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. 4 David Ferrer (ESP)

Doubles Final
M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) vs. R. de Voest (RSA)/D. Tursunov (RUS)

(images: Barclays Dubai Tennis Tournament)

Serbian Novak Djokovic enjoyed a routine win over Croat Marin Cilic. He will play Gilles Simon in the semifinals. Their head-to-head is split 1-1 with Djokovic winning at the Masters Cup in China last year and Simon winning in Marseille last year. Simon will need to bring his A-game tomorrow because he has struggled in the last few tournaments.

In doubles news, Dmitry Tursunov and Rik De Voest upset defending champions, Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles in straight sets. The first-time pair will meet the David Ferrer and Marat Safin in the semifinals. Another first-time pairing, Ferrer and Safin defeated South Africans Jeff Coetzee and Wesley Moodie in three sets. Ferrer and Safin already knocked off fourth-seeds Andy Ram and Kevin Ullyett in the round of 16.

Tomorrow should be a good day since all the matches have interesting pairings.

Thursday's Results:
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. 5 Marin Cilic (CRO) 6-3 6-4
Richard Gasquet (FRA) def. Andy Murray - walkover 3
Gilles Simon (FRA) def. Fabrice Santoro (FRA) 7-6(3) 6-1 4 David Ferrer (ESP) def. 6 Igor Andreev (RUS) 7-5 6-1

Doubles Quarterfinals
R. de Voest (RSA)/D. Tursunov (RUS) def. 2 M. Bhupathi (IND)/ M. Knowles (BAH) 7-6(4) 6-2
M. Matkowski (POL)/R. Schuettler (GER) def. J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) 4-6 6-4 12-10
M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. S. Bolelli (ITA)/I. Karlovic (CRO) 6-2 7-6(2)
D. Ferrer (ESP)/ M. Safin (RUS) def. J. Coetzee (RSA)/ W. Moodie (RSA) 5-7 6-4 12-10

Friday’s Matches:
Singles Semifinals
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. 3 Gilles Simon (FRA)
4 David Ferrer (ESP) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA)

Doubles Semifinals
M. Matkowski (POL)/R. Schuettler (GER) vs. M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE)
D. Ferrer (ESP)/M. Safin (RUS) vs. R. de Voest (RSA)/D. Tursunov (RUS)

(image: Barclays Dubai Tennis Tournament)

Andy Murray has withdrawn out of the quarterfinals of Barclays Dubai Tennis Tournament due to a viral illness. The Scotsman was scheduled to play Richard Gasquet today. Gasquet will receive a walkover and books a spot in the semifinals against David Ferrer.

David Ferrer beat Igor Andreev 7-5 6-1 in a 108 minute shoot out. The incredibly, mobile Spaniard eventually wore the Russian down to advance to the semifinals. This is Ferrer's third semifinal of the year.

Ferrer currently leads Gasquet 3-1 in their head-to-head matchup, but Gasquet did win their last meeting last year in Toronto.

After struggling in the first round, Gilles Simon (pictured at the Dubai Duty Free marquee yesterday) steam rolled over Teimuraz Gabashvili in just 53 minutes of work. He will face countryman Fabrice Santoro in the quarterfinals.

Richard Gasquet was involved in a three-set shoot out with Italian Simone Bolleli that lasted 183 minutes. Both served big and hit big. The match was close and both players split the first-two sets. The third set was extremely close. Gasquet had eight opportunities to break the Italian, but Bolleli fought off break points by going for big winners when he needed to. The third set went to a tiebreak and was tight until the Frenchman snatched the twelfth point of the tiebreak to win the match.

Gasquet will face Andy Murray tomorrow. We'll see if he anything left for tomorrow after playing three hours today. Gasquet currently leads their head-to-head 2-1, but Murray won the last meeting where they played five-set marathon match that lasted almost four hours.

Wednesday’s Results:
Singles Round of 16
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Jan Hernych (CZE) 6-3 3-6 6-4
2 Andy Murray (GBR) def. Arnaud Clement (FRA) 6-2 6-3
3 Gilles Simon (FRA) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 6-1 6-2
4 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4 6-2
5 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-3 4-6 7-5 6
Igor Andreev (RUS) def. Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) 5-7 6-4 6-3
Richard Gasquet (FRA) def. Simone Bolelli (ITA) 6-7(4) 6-3 7-6(5)
Fabrice Santoro (FRA) def. Q Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 3-6 6-1 7-6(1)

Doubles Round of 16
1 D. Nestor (CAN)/ N. Zimonjic (SRB) def. J. Knowle (AUT)/ J. Melzer (AUT) 6-4 6-4
D. Ferrer (ESP)/ M. Safin (RUS) def. 4 A. Ram (ISR)/ K. Ullyett (ZIM) 6-3 3-6 10-8
M. Damm (CZE)/ R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. WC P. Amritraj (IND)/ A. Qureshi (PAK) 7-6(4) 7-5
J. Coetzee (RSA)/ W. Moodie (RSA) def. J. Tipsarevic (SRB)/ V. Troicki (SRB) 6-3 6-4

Thursday's Schedule:
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. 5 Marin Cilic (CRO)
2 Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA)
3 Gilles Simon (FRA) vs. Fabrice Santoro (FRA)
4 David Ferrer (ESP) vs. 6 Igor Andreev (RUS)

Doubles Quarterfinals:
2 M. Bhupathi (IND)/ M. Knowles (BAH) vs. R .de Voest (RSA)/ D. Tursunov (RUS)
J. Knowle (AUT)/ J. Melzer (AUT) vs. M. Matkowski (POL)/ R. Schuettler (GER)
S. Bolelli (ITA)/ I. Karlovic (CRO) vs. M. Damm (CZE) / R. Lindstedt (SWE)
J. Coetzee (RSA)/ W. Moodie (RSA) vs. D. Ferrer (ESP)/ M. Safin (RUS)

(images: Barclays Dubai Tennis Tournament)

Tuesday’s Matches:
Singles Round of 32
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Q Flavio Cipolla (ITA) 6-3 6-2
3 Gilles Simon (FRA) def. wc Mohammed Ghareeb (KUW) 5-7 6-4 6-4
6 Igor Andreev (RUS) def. Rik de Voest (RSA) 6-4 6-0
Richard Gasquet (FRA) def. 8 Marat Safin (RUS) 6-3 5-7 6-3
Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) def. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 6-1 6-4
Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. Juergen Melzer (AUT) 1-6 6-3 6-3
Jan Hernych (CZE) def. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 4-6 6-1 6-4
Phillip Kohlschreiber (GER) def. Q Michael Lammer (SUI) 6-1 6-1
Simone Bolelli (ITA) def. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-3 6-4
Arnaud Clement (FRA)def. 1-6 6-3 6-3

Doubles Round of 16
2 M Bhupathi (IND)/ M Knowles (BAH) vs. H Abbas (UAE)/M Al Baloushi (UAE) 6-3 6-1

Wednesday’s Schedule:
Singles Round of 16
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Jan Hernych (CZE)
2 Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Arnaud Clement (FRA)
3 Gilles Simon (FRA) vs Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS)
4 David Ferrer (ESP) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
5 Marin Cilic (CRO) vs. Julien Benneteau (FRA)
6 Igor Andreev (RUS) vs. Dmitry Tursunov (RUS)
Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs. Simone Bolelli (ITA)
Fabrice Santoro (FRA) vs. Q Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)

Doubles Round of 16
1 D Nestor (CAN)/ N Zimonjic (SRB) vs. J Knowle (AUT)/ J Melzer (AUT)
4 A Ram (ISR)/ K Ullyett (ZIM) vs. D Ferrer (ESP)/ M Safin (RUS)
WC P Amritraj (IND)/ A Qureshi (PAK) vs. M Damm (CZE)/ R Lindstedt (SWE)
J Tipsarevic (SRB)/ V Troicki (SRB) vs. J Coetzee (RSA)/ W Moodie (RSA)

Gilles Simon managed to advance into the second round. He beat Mohammed Ghareeb of Kuwait 5-7 6-4 6-4. The Frenchman struggled and was clearly frustrated throughout the game, but was able to put away the World No. 469. Simon will play Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili in the second round where he currently leads the head-to-head 3-0.
(image: Barclays Dubai Tennis Tournament)

Newly buzzed Marat Safin had the unfortunate task of taking on the World no. 26 Richard Gasquet of France in the first round. This is the eighth seed’s last appearance at the tournament since he will retire at the end of the year.

Both players played well for the first four games, then Richard Gasquet managed to win three games in a row. By game seven, Safin was back to keeping it real on the court, but Gasquet remained composed to close out the first set 6-3. It looked it was all going downhill for Safin, but he calmed down to keep things even in the second set. At the end of the second set, Gasquet began to struggle on his serve, and Safin broke Gasquet in the twelfth game to take the set 7-5.

The Frenchmen did not let the loss of the set get him down and quickly broke Safin in the first game of the third set. He then cruised to take the set and won the match 6-3 5-7 6-4. Gasquet will meet Italian Simone Bolleli in the second round. (Both images: AP)

Barclays Dubai Tennis Tournament

Spaniard David Ferrer rallied to beat Croat Ivan Ljubicic in the opening round. He awaits the winner of the Kohlschreiber/Lammer match.

Monday's Results:
Singles Round of 32
2 Andy Murray (GBR) def. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-7(3) 6-3 5-3 ret’d
4 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 3-6 6-2 6-1
5 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 2-6 7-6(3) 6-4
Q Marci Chiudinelli (SUI) def. 7 Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(7)
Fabrice Santoro (FRA) def. Victor Hanescu (ROU) 6-4 6-2
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) def. Q Laurent Recouderc (FRA) 5-7 7-6(4) 6-3

Doubles Round of 16
R. de Voest (RSA)/D. Tursunov (RUS) def. I. Andreev (RUS)/M. Youzhny (RUS) 6-3 6-2
S Bolelli (ITA)/I Karlovic (CRO) def. 3 L Dlouhy (CZE)/L Paes (IND) 6-4 2-6 10-8
M Matkowski (POL)/R Schuettler (GER) def. C Kas (GER)/P Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-3 6-2

Tuesday’s Schedule:
Singles Round of 32
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs Q F Cipolla (ITA)
3 Gilles Simon (FRA) vs. wc M Ghareeb (KUW)
6 Igor Andreev (RUS) vs Rik de Voest (RSA)
8 Marat Safin (RUS) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA)
Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) vs. Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Juergen Melzer (AUT) vs Julien Benneteau (FRA)
Jan Hernych (CZE) vs Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)
Phillip Kohlschreiber (GER) vs. Q Michael Lammer (SUI)
Viktor Troicki (SRB) vs. Simone Bolelli (ITA)
Rainer Schuettler (GER) vs. Arnaud Clement (FRA)

Doubles Round of 16
2 M Bhupathi (IND)/ M Knowles (BAH) vs. H Abbas (UAE)/M Al Baloushi (UAE)

City: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Championship Points: 500
2008 Singles Champion: Andy Roddick
2008 Doubles Champions: Knowles/Bhupathi

Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Roddick and Fernando have all pulled out of the tournament. This leaves Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic as the heavy favorites. Hopefully, a couple of players will step it up and make this tournament interesting.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Monday's Matches:
Singles Round of 32
2 Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR)
4 David Ferrer (ESP) vs. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
5 Marin Cilic (CRO) vs. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB)
7 Ivo Karlovic (CRO) vs. Q Marci Chiudinelli (SUI)
Victor Hanescu (ROU) vs. Fabrice Santoro (FRA)
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) vs. Q Laurent Recouderc (FRA)

Doubles Round of 16
R. de Voest (RSA)/D. Tursunov (RUS) vs. I. Andreev (RUS)/M. Youzhny (RUS)
3 L Dlouhy (CZE)/L Paes (IND) vs. S Bolelli (ITA)/I Karlovic (CRO)
M Matkowski (POL)/R Schuettler (GER) vs. C Kas (GER)/P Kohlschreiber (GER)

Monday's Order of Play

(image from 2008 final: Barclays Dubai Tennis Tournament)

Due to a back injury, Roger Federer will not play in the Dubai tournament at the end of the month and has pulled out of the Switzerland's Davis Cup match with the United States in March:

"As a precautionary measure, I will use the next few weeks to make sure the back injury is fully rehabilitated and I am ready for the rest of the 2009 season," Federer said in a statement posted on his Web site Tuesday.

Since this is precautionary measure, Federer should be fine as long as he is healthy for the Indian Wells tournament. His semifinal points, from last year, are the next set of points he has to defend this season.